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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. roll — a cake
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bulb — for light
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. charge — electricity
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. dip — to sink
  16. rash — hasty
  17. toast — bread
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. charge — in control
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. roll — a list
  22. charge — a price
  23. rash — a series
  24. ruler — for measuring

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com